r/cycling • u/minger_09 • Apr 26 '26

How bad is this?

So i think the frame is cracked but my friends thinks its just paint

So basicly the bike shop gave me the bike with the correct saddle height than the saddle slipped down during a ride I went home and tightened it to about 0.5 don't have a touch wrench but didn't hear any carbon cracking

Could it be the when the saddle slipped but im not to sure but it seems a bit high for to be from the seat post

What do you think I should do its a giant bike so I think its moved under warranty but if the bike shops messed up with the saddle in the frist place.

Or should I just email Giant and see what the story is.

Any suggestion please say

The photos bellow

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wOhWZWYOeGIspc0IGZF0XXr-xkLzbejW/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dDdB0jkCIwdP50_hlUqwurwXNgiHKNPL/view?usp=drivesdk

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u/ROSC00 Apr 26 '26

Looks like paint to me. If the frame is cracked it would not hold torque and seat post much more spin riding conditions. Or you would know very very very quickly through audible or a seat post play.

I had to shorten a Colnago V4RS seatpost , cut it and it was like slicing steel almost.

You can also do tap sounds etc.

You can also tell giant that it slipped in ride which happened and have them address it end of season probably a swap.

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u/minger_09 Apr 26 '26

Grand thanks for your help The more I look at it the less I think its a crack and apparently giant had a problem with the paint back when the bike was made about 5 years ago

Also since its off to the left and a chips more than a crack I am starting to think it is just paint damage but Im still going to get it checked out and not touch the seat post ever again at this rate on any carbon bikes

Thanks for the suggestion with giant as well if it does turn out to be a crack I will probaly say that.

Thanks for all your help again becus it proably wouldnt hold the seat post nearly as well as it is.

But still going to heybit check out just in case thanks.

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u/ROSC00 Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26

People forget that these bikes are fragile with a finite lifecycle. I broke in the V3Rs in 900 kms, when it steered to feel soft in the BB area, and only he V4Rs gave me new confidence win actual frame engineering, it is some 200 Nm and I dropped 5 percent at 3000 kms. Tadej needs the full amount so they give him 15 bikes per tour. Most bikes, if used properly, with effort (not abuse) can do 10000 kms but then lifecycles kicks in. So the overall carbon loses structural rigidity in key areas and paint is the biggest tell all. Sam for shoes, saddles etc.

Rims too. Broke a few Shimano dura ace- never again they cracked at spoke junction. Enve only- and not surprised Team UAE stuck with them. The reason why rims can last hundreds of thousands kms vs thousand for a frame is the direction; stiffness and fibre. You can never abuse them or brake them unless they are badly made in China or suffer a major impact. But frames will fatigue fast as load has a compounding effect. Water UV, play starts to create gaps between layers. I had one bike that I never realized dripping from 120/140 to 100, I kick myself for keeping it 43,000 kms. It was done by 30,000 kms. And the performance impact is huge. Loss of energy here there.